In the absence of geographical and existing mains records for the municipality, the first phase of the project was to survey the streets and identify the pole positions for the proposed overhead lines. This task was made more difficult as residents have expanded their properties, transgressing the state-owned pavements and roads. These areas are considered to be suburban farmlands and are not subject to planning regulations, so it was necessary to gain the confidence and trust of the local residents.

One of the four circuits to be rebuilt in a heavily congested residential area had to be erected without disrupting the supplies afforded by the existing 11-kV overhead line. Apart from the lack of records for the existing lines and cables, there was evidence of illegal abstraction with customers tapping the existing circuit. Site assessments that included recording the number of customers and an estimation of energy consumption preceded the design for the 11-kV overhead lines with 120 mm²/20 mm² (0.186 inches²/0.031 inches²)ACSR conductors, the 0.4-kV low-voltage overhead network using aerial bunched conductors and the location of the 11-kV low-voltage package substations. In Iraq, the normal practice was to install outdoor transformers, so the use of packaged substations marked the introduction of new technology. The network, based on British standards, was designed as a traditional radial 11-kV overhead line circuit to be routed on the outer perimeter of the villages, thereby affording an improved level of supply reliability.

REFURBISHING THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

After completion of the site survey, network design and procurement of materials and equipment, the items were imported into Iraq through neighboring Turkey and Kuwait. The packaged substations, supplied by Siemens, were shipped directly to Iraq and stored at designated storage locations until the site foundations were ready to receive the equipment. The substations contain an 11-kV/0.4-kV 1000-kVA transformer, 11-kV ring main unit and metal-clad circuit breakers with various current ratings to protect the low-voltage feeders.

Local residents remained skeptical until materials started arriving on-site. This proved to be the turning point for the NPSC field staff with the community, which was offering cooperation and support coupled with gestures of goodwill in the form of meals for the teams. At this stage, residents were willing to express their appreciation that such a project was being undertaken at a time when security was poor and the country was in a political power vacuum.

The ME retained responsibility for the customer-service connections between the aerial bunched conductor network that was strung on the same supports as the 11-kV overhead lines and the customer's termination. The duration of this project was 11 months, and the project was successfully completed and commissioned within this time period without compromise to the quality and safety. The project was successful and a modern uncompromised network was installed in four suburbs.

STEPS TO THE FUTURE

The experience gained from this project on the refurbishment of the distribution network in Iraq has led to the identification of core reasons and factors that many Iraqis now consider a major drawback affecting their daily lives, namely the lack of an uninterrupted supply of electrical energy.

To resolve the current situation, action needs to be taken to implement the following five solutions.

1. Power production needs to be increased to at least 5000 MW. This could be achieved in the short term by constructing several 100-MW stations, rather than larger-capacity plants, which would take longer to build and have a higher financial burden on the government budget. The power plant capacity recommended is judged to be adequate for the current situation, with plants being designed to use the widely available crude oil.

2. A customer guidance program on energy issues should be established. User attitudes about cost, energy efficiency and conservation need to be refined.

3. A training program for the local field staff is needed.

4. The existing extra-high-voltage/high-voltage and high-voltage/low-voltage substations need to be refurbished.

5. A revenue-collection system needs to be implemented.

These solutions would help reduce the pressure on the national grid and prevent the state from seeking alternative solutions such as importing electrical energy from neighboring countries. A secure and reliable electricity supply is a basic provision that many Iraqis hope to see in the near future.

Taymor Farage received his secondary education in the United Kingdom and studied electronic engineering at Kingston University before completing a marketing program at the School of Business Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Farage started his career as a personal banking representative for a Canadian financial institution. Currently, Farage is the managing director at National Petroleum Services Co., which is involved in electrical contracting in Iraq serving the electrical and oil sectors. taymor@npsci.com